Spiral conveyer.



No. 803,924. PATBNTED NOV. 7, 1905. T. MOGRATH n F. MGANDREWS.

SPIRAL CONVEYER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29.1905.

NITD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SPIRAL CONVEYER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. '7, 1905.

Application filed May 29,1905. Serial No. 262,777-

To all whom, t wha/y concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS M CGRATH and FRANK M oANDREws, citizens of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the countyl of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spiral Oonveyers; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to spiral conveyers, and particularly to those having removable flights, and has for its object to improve the same in the several particulars hereinafter noted. 1

The invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter defined, and described in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate our invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Figure l is a plan view showing' a portion of the conveyer-shafts, to which one of our improved flights is applied. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line m2 x2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a view, partly in side elevation, with some parts sectioned on the line m3 x3 of Fig. 1. Fig. t is a view corresponding to Fig. l, but illustrating a modified construction; and Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line m5 .fc5 of Fig. 4.

The numeral l indicates a conveyer-shaft, which, as shown, is in the form of a pipe or tube, which gives maximum strength with a minimum of weight.

The numeral 2 indicates one of the flights of the conveyer,which Hight is approximately semi-annular and is to be set onthe conveyershaft at an oblique angle to the axis thereof at about forty-live degrees. In a complete conveyer of course there will be a plurality of these flights set on the shaft the one in ad- Vance of the other. The shaft-seat, formed by the inner and smaller curve of the iiight 2,

is somewhat larger than the exterior of the.

shaft, which is of course necessary in order to permit the flight to be set at an oblique angle to said shaft.

Referring now to the construction illustrated in Figs. l, 2, and 3, the numeral 3 indicates a curved bridge-bar, so called, which is pivotally attached at one end to one end of the Hight, preferably by means of a rivet 4. At its other end said bridge-bar is detachably secured to the other end of the flight, preferably by means of a shortnutted bolt 5. The iiight and the bridge-bar completely embrace the conveyer-shaft. Fitting the shaft and interposed between the same and the bridge-bar 3 isaso-called anchor-block 6,that is formed with transversely-intersecting grooves 7. The bridge-bar 3 is adapted tobe set in either of the grooves 7 and when seated in one thereof will set the flight at an oblique angle for right-hand thread and when set in the other groove will set said flight for a left-hand thread. A set-screw 8 works through one end of the anchor-block 6 and impinges against the conveyer -shaft When the set-screw 8 is tightened, that end of the anchor-block is raised and the other end thereof is forced against the shaft and becomes a fulcrum. This arising or outward movement of the anchor-block forces outward the bridge-bar and tightly clamps the flight against said shaft and rigidly holds the same in its properly-set position. Then the setscrew is loosened and the bolt is removed, the Hight may be removed from the shaft by a movement transversely thereof and may of course be applied to said shaft by a reverse operation.

In the modified construction (illustrated in Figs. t and 5) the' bridge-bar 3 is shown as formed integral with the anchor-block 6. The operation of this device is substantially the same as that illustrated in Figs. l, 2, and 3, except that in this modified construction the integrallyformed blocks and parts would have to be made in rights and lefts in order to provide for the different applications of the flights to the shaft. Both ofthe said constructions, however, are thought to be a marked improvement over previously-existing devices employed for a similar purpose. In both instances the fiights and bridge-bars completely embrace the conveyer-shaft, so that the flight cannot drop from the shaft even though it should become loose. In conveyers having detachable flights a great deal of damage has been done by flights which have fallen from the shaft upon becoming loose, and thereby caused breaking of other parts.

Our improved conveyer-flight while of small cost is strong and durable, may be ap- IOO plied and removed quickly and with ease, sind is generally efficient Jfor the purposes had in view.

What we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

l. The combination with aconveyer-shaft,of a iight having a bridge-bar pivoted thereto at one end and detachably secured thereto at its other end, said flight and bridge-bar embracing said shaft, a grooved anchor-block interposed between said bridge-bar and said shaft, and a set-screw working through one end of said anchor-block and serving to tilt the sanne and tighten said flight onto said shaft, substantially as described.

2. The connbin ation with a conveyershaft,of

THOMAS MCGRATH. FRANK MCANDREWS.

Witnesses:

MALIE HoEL, F. D. MERCHANT. 

